Colour and character in a Canberra apartment

---

Text by Aria Tan

This 1,152-square-foot Canberra apartment leaves a strong impression — not through grand gestures, but through confident choices made at a domestic scale. Colour is used with intent, furniture is carefully selected, and the home feels considered without appearing overworked. Designed by Aloysius Ong, Creative Director of HID Studio, for a young couple with reflective, home-centred routines, the renovation places everyday living at the forefront, allowing personality to surface through objects, materials and use.

The brief focused on creating a more open living environment. One common bedroom was removed to enlarge the living and dining area, making room for a fluid study zone that remains visually connected while staying functionally distinct.

Like many newer condominiums in Singapore, the apartment was designed with a fixed structural framework, leaving little scope for major alteration and encouraging a design approach that worked within the existing layout. “Rather than resisting the constraints, the approach embraced them — working within the given envelope to amplify openness and spatial continuity,” explains Aloysius. Furniture was kept low and visually grounded, ensuring clear sightlines and an easy sense of flow across the shared spaces.

The dining area sits at the centre of the home. Informed by mid-century modern sensibilities, a restored Danish extendable table by Copan.co anchors the space, paired with Niels Møller Model 77 chairs in green. Two intentionally mismatched chairs — one red, one orange — introduce a relaxed note, subtly reflecting the homeowners’ preference for character over uniformity. Above, a Hay pendant provides an even wash of light, while an Akari 1A table lamp nearby softens the atmosphere during quieter moments.

In the living area, a Hans J. Wegner GE-290 two-seater offers comfort without visual heaviness, its low profile helping the space feel open rather than crowded. Benjamin Moore wall colours provide depth and structure, supporting artworks by Sofia Lind and decorative objects without overpowering them. A low-profile console wrapped in ALPI California burl laminate runs along the wall, housing vinyl records, ceramics and collected pieces that reflect the homeowners’ interests. “Through composition, contrast, and considered styling, the home achieves a sense of generosity and individuality — proving that spatial richness can be shaped as much by what is placed within a space as by what is removed,” says Aloysius.

Circulation is treated with equal attention. The corridor leading to the bedrooms is wrapped in a deep green, gently shifting the mood from shared to private. Wall lights by Verde Lights introduce a steady rhythm, while framed artworks guide movement forward, turning what might have been a purely functional passage into a calm transition.

The master bedroom takes on a quieter tone. Finished in Benjamin Moore’s Evening Sky, the room feels enclosed and restful. A low upholstered bed and vintage bedside tables add warmth, while a plum-toned &Tradition Flowerpot VP9 table lamp casts a focused, ambient glow.

Vinyl flooring overlays the original tiles throughout the home, softening the interior without erasing its underlying structure. “Built-ins were intentionally restrained, giving way to carefully curated loose pieces and a confident, strategic use of colour,” Aloysius notes. The result is a home that feels personal rather than pristine — one that accommodates everyday habits as naturally as it holds attention.

HID Studio
www.hidstudio.sg
www.instagram.com/hidstudio
www.facebook.com/hidstudiosg

Photography by Marcus Lim

We think you may also like Casa of Curiosities: A colour-led apartment waiting to be discovered

---

---